U.S. patent number 11,406,923 [Application Number 16/561,150] was granted by the patent office on 2022-08-09 for housing of a liquid separation device for separation of a liquid from a gas-liquid mixture.
This patent grant is currently assigned to ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER, NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP. The grantee listed for this patent is ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER, NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP. Invention is credited to Pieter-Jan Belles, Johan Dom, Benjamin Moens, Diego Truyen.
United States Patent |
11,406,923 |
Dom , et al. |
August 9, 2022 |
Housing of a liquid separation device for separation of a liquid
from a gas-liquid mixture
Abstract
A housing of a liquid separation device that includes an inlet
for the gas-liquid mixture and a set of integrated components, the
set of integrated components includes a liquid separator vessel to
separate liquid from the gas-liquid mixture, where the liquid
separator vessel includes an entry port for the gas-liquid mixture,
a liquid outlet port, and a gas outlet port. The set of integrated
components further includes a set of channels, where a wall of each
channel is part of the housing and the set of channels includes an
inlet channel to guide the gas-liquid mixture from the inlet of the
housing to the entry port of the liquid separator vessel and an
outlet channel to guide gas from the gas outlet port away from the
liquid separator vessel. The set of integrated components includes
a liquid buffer tank that allows liquid to flow through an opening
in the wall.
Inventors: |
Dom; Johan (Wilrijk,
BE), Moens; Benjamin (Wilrijk, BE), Belles;
Pieter-Jan (Wilrijk, BE), Truyen; Diego (Wilrijk,
BE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER, NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP |
Wilrijk |
N/A |
BE |
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Assignee: |
ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER, NAAMLOZE
VENNOOTSCHAP (Wilrijk, BE)
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Family
ID: |
1000006483948 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/561,150 |
Filed: |
September 5, 2019 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20200086258 A1 |
Mar 19, 2020 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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62731181 |
Sep 14, 2018 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jan 10, 2019 [BE] |
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2019/5013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01D
46/0002 (20130101); B01D 46/0031 (20130101); B01D
46/0001 (20130101); B01D 46/0087 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B01D
46/00 (20220101) |
Field of
Search: |
;55/421,434-465,447-451,462-465 ;96/188-192,241-266,155-220
;95/267-272 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2013121257 |
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Aug 2013 |
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WO |
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2018134758 |
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Jul 2019 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Hopkins; Robert A
Assistant Examiner: He; Qianping
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bacon & Thomas, PLLC
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of provisional application
62/731,181, filed Sep. 14, 2018, and Belgium application BE
2019/5013, filed Jan. 10, 2019, which are incorporated herein by
reference.
The present invention concerns a housing of a liquid separation
device for separation of a liquid from a gas-liquid mixture.
In particular, the invention concerns a housing of a liquid
separation device comprising an integrated liquid separation vessel
as part of the housing for separating liquid from a gas compressed
by means of a liquid-injected compressor or vacuum pump element.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A housing of a liquid separation device for separation of a
liquid from a gas-liquid mixture, said housing comprising: at least
two opposite housing pieces which are configured to be hermetically
sealed together along a sealing line which is situated in a sealing
face along a horizontal plane, an inlet for the gas-liquid mixture;
and a set of integrated components, wherein the set of integrated
components comprises a liquid separator vessel configured to
separate liquid from the gas-liquid mixture and a liquid reservoir
for storing liquid from the liquid separator vessel, wherein the
liquid separator vessel comprises an entry port for the gas-liquid
mixture, a liquid outlet port, and a gas outlet port, wherein the
set of integrated components further comprises a set of channels,
wherein a wall of each channel is part of the housing along the
sealing face of the at least two opposite housing pieces, wherein
the set of channels comprises an inlet channel configured to guide
the gas-liquid mixture from the inlet of the housing to the entry
port of the liquid separator vessel; and an outlet channel
configured to guide gas from the gas outlet port away from the
liquid separator vessel, wherein the set of integrated components
further comprises a liquid buffer tank, said liquid buffer tank
being at least partly separated from the liquid separator vessel by
means of a wall, and said liquid buffer tank being configured such
that liquid in the liquid separator vessel is able to flow
longitudinally into the liquid buffer tank and from the liquid
buffer tank into the liquid separator vessel through an opening in
said wall, wherein the set of integrated components further
comprises a supporting seat in communication with the outlet port
of the liquid separator vessel, and which is configured to
accommodate a liquid filter configured to filter impurities from
liquid output through the outlet port of the liquid separator
vessel, and wherein the set of channels comprises a drainage
channel configured to drain liquid filtered from impurities in the
liquid filter away from the supporting seat to a liquid outlet of
the housing.
2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the set of integrated
components further comprises a liquid storage reservoir, said
liquid storage reservoir being configured such that the liquid
storage reservoir is configured to store liquid leaving the liquid
separator vessel through the liquid outlet port of the liquid
separator vessel, and the liquid filter is configured to filter
impurities from liquid stored in the liquid reservoir.
3. The housing according to claim 2, wherein an internal wall of
the liquid storage reservoir comprises a recess configured to
contain a heater.
4. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the liquid separator
vessel contains an internal liquid separation filter configured to
further separate liquid from the gas-liquid mixture.
5. The housing according to claim 4, wherein the set of channels
comprises a scavenge channel which is configured to guide liquid
separated in the internal liquid separation filter away from the
liquid separator vessel.
6. The housing according to claim 5, wherein the set of integrated
components further comprises a fitting configured to connect a
blow-off valve.
7. The housing according to claim 6, wherein the fitting configured
to connect the blow-off valve is provided downstream the internal
liquid separation filter.
8. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the set of integrated
components further comprises a fitting configured to connect a
safety valve.
9. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the set of integrated
components further comprises a casing configured to contain a
minimum pressure valve.
10. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the set of integrated
components further comprises a casing configured to contain a
thermostatic valve.
11. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the set of integrated
components further comprises a casing configured to contain a
thermostatic valve and a connection channel configured to connect
the casing configured to contain the thermostatic valve with the
supporting seat configured to accommodate the liquid filter.
12. The housing according to claim 1, wherein a channel in the set
of channels is cut along the sealing face over a distance of more
than 50% of a length of said channel.
13. The housing according to claim 12, wherein the sealing line is
at least partly contained in the wall of the channel.
14. The housing according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the
at least two opposite housing pieces, is provided with a groove
along the sealing line.
15. The housing according to claim 14, wherein the groove is a
continuous groove.
16. The housing according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the
at least two opposite housing pieces opposite to the at least one
of the at least two opposite housing pieces provided with the
groove, is provided with a protrusion along the sealing line, said
protrusion being configured to fit into the groove.
17. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the liquid separator
vessel comprises a detachable lid.
18. The housing according to claim 1, wherein a channel in the set
of channels is essentially constant in diameter along a length of
said channel.
19. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the liquid separator
vessel comprises a concave internal surface which is cyclic
symmetric.
20. The housing according to claim 19, wherein the gas outlet port
of the liquid separator vessel is arranged along an axis around
which the concave internal surface is cyclic symmetric.
21. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the gas outlet port
and the liquid outlet port of the liquid separator vessel are
arranged at a same side of the liquid separator vessel.
Description
BACKGROUND
It is known that, for such a compressor or vacuum pump element,
liquid is injected into a compression chamber of the compressor or
vacuum pump element to lubricate, cool and/or seal one or more
rotors contained in this compression chamber.
This liquid is mixed with the gas drawn into the compression
chamber, and is discharged together with the compressed gas from
the compressor or vacuum pump element.
In a liquid separator downstream the liquid-injected compressor or
vacuum pump element, liquid needs to be separated from the
gas-liquid mixture discharged from such a liquid-injected
compressor or vacuum pump element to supply a consumer or consumer
network with basically liquid-free compressed gas or compressed gas
with at least a significantly reduced liquid content.
The separated liquid is then recovered and redirected from the
liquid separator to the liquid-injected compressor or vacuum pump
element in order to be reinjected into the compression chamber.
Typically, the liquid separator is a unit comprising a vessel
separate from the liquid-injected compressor or vacuum pump
element, whereby the vessel is configured to separate and store
liquid from the gas-liquid mixture.
An inlet of the liquid separator is coupled to an outlet for the
compressed gas-liquid mixture of the liquid-injected compressor or
vacuum pump element by means of a conduit. An outlet for
liquid-free or low-liquid gas of the liquid separator is connected
either to a consumer network or application, or to additional
downstream equipment units to further treat the liquid-free or
low-liquid gas.
Examples of separate liquid separators according to the prior art
may, for instance, be found in WO 2018/134758.
These prior art liquid separators, however, show some specific
disadvantages.
A first disadvantage lies in the considerable overall dimensions of
the liquid separator, in particular due to the size of the
vessel.
For instance, in case the liquid injected into the compression
chamber is oil, this oil is subject to relatively rapid degradation
by oxidation due to substantial heat generated in the compressor or
vacuum pump element upon compression of the gas. For this reason,
the volume of oil maintained in a compressor or vacuum pump
installation and, consequently the size of the tank, should be kept
as large as possible in order to decrease the ratio of contact
surface between oil and gas with respect to this volume of oil. In
this way, frequency of oil replacements may be decreased, such that
down times of the compressor or vacuum pump installation for oil
replacement are reduced.
If the size of the liquid separator tank is reduced without
lowering the volume of liquid contained in the compressor or vacuum
pump installation, such that a liquid filling level of the liquid
separator vessel increases, a risk of liquid entrainment from the
liquid in the liquid separator vessel to the obtained liquid-low or
liquid-free gas occurs due to turbulences in this liquid and at the
contact surface between liquid and gas, as a result of vigorous
entry of the gas-liquid mixture in the liquid separator tank,
possible pressure fluctuations in the liquid separator tank, and/or
vigorous evacuation of liquid from the liquid separator tank.
A second disadvantage is constituted by the considerable number of
components in the overall compressor or vacuum pump installation
comprising a separate liquid separator, mainly due to the number of
conduits to connect different equipment units downstream the
compressor or vacuum pump element, among which the liquid
separator.
In addition, pressure drops over the conduits increase with the
number of bends and the length of these conduits.
Finally, the conduits are typically the weakest components of the
overall compressor or vacuum pump installation with respect to
mechanical strength, corrosion and leak-tightness, in particular at
locations where the conduits fit onto the different equipment
units, implying specific requirements with respect to sealing and
isolation of these conduits.
When the conduit between the compressor or vacuum pump element and
the liquid separator of the compressor or vacuum pump installation
does not securely connect these two components as a single unit, it
may be difficult to safely move the compressor or vacuum pump
installation as one, implying that the compressor or vacuum pump
installation should be disassembled into all its components upon
transport.
For these reasons, there is a need to bring the compressor or
vacuum pump element and further downstream equipment units, such as
components of a compressor or vacuum pump installation, closer
together in space, or even to integrate functions of these
components in a more limited number of parts with respect to the
number of parts required in conventional compression installations
in which all components are separated in space.
For instance, compressor or vacuum pump installations have been
developed integrating the liquid-injected compressor or vacuum pump
element and the liquid separator in one common housing comprising a
body composed of one single block.
Examples of this kind of integrated compressor or vacuum pump
installation are, for example, known from EP 2 820 307.
However, integrating both compressor or vacuum pump element and
liquid separator in one common housing reduces a general modularity
and flexibility in the assembly of the compressor or vacuum pump
installation as the compressor or vacuum pump element and liquid
separator cannot be detached and separated from each other.
This poses some limitations on an adjustment of the liquid
separator dimensions to a load and associated liquid requirements
of the compressor or vacuum pump element, a possibly compulsory
adaptation of the liquid separator to perform according to more
stringent governmental regulations, and/or a replacement of only
one of the liquid separator or compressor/vacuum pump element when
one of these components fails or breaks down.
In addition, the integration of too many components of the
compressor or vacuum pump installation in one small common housing
composed of one single block may reduce accessibility of the
components in the housing, and consequently the serviceability of
these components.
Furthermore, the compressor or vacuum pump element with its shape
and position is often fixed as one of the first components into the
housing block, since this shape is determined by the rotors
contained in this compression chamber. As a result, space in the
housing block remaining after the fixation of the shape and
position of the compressor or vacuum pump element in the housing
block is applied to fix the position and shape of the liquid
separator, often leading to a non-symmetric internal shape of the
liquid separator vessel as illustrated by the liquid separator
vessel in EP 2 820 307, resulting in a nonoptimal separation of
liquid from the gas-liquid mixture in the liquid separator
vessel.
Finally, the integration of many components in one small common
housing composed of one single block may pose significant
challenges for the manufacturing of the housing, requiring the use
of advanced techniques such as additive manufacturing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a solution to
one or more of the aforementioned and/or other disadvantages.
To this end, the invention concerns a housing of a liquid
separation device for separation of a liquid from a gas-liquid
mixture,
whereby the housing comprises an inlet for the gas-liquid mixture
and a set of integrated components,
whereby the set of integrated components comprises a liquid
separator vessel configured to separate liquid from the gas-liquid
mixture,
whereby the liquid separator vessel comprises an entry port for the
gas-liquid mixture, a liquid outlet port, and a gas outlet
port,
whereby the set of integrated components further comprises a set of
channels, whereby a wall of each channel is part of the
housing,
whereby the set of channels comprises
an inlet channel configured to guide the gas-liquid mixture from
the inlet of the housing to the entry port of the liquid separator
vessel; and an outlet channel configured to guide gas from the gas
outlet port away from the liquid separator vessel, with the
characteristic that the set of integrated components further
comprises a liquid buffer tank, which liquid buffer tank is at
least partly separated from the liquid separator vessel by means of
a wall, and which liquid buffer tank is configured such that liquid
in the liquid separator vessel may flow in the liquid buffer tank
and vice versa through an opening in said wall.
An advantage of the housing according to the invention is that the
number of components in the overall compression installation is
reduced by eliminating the need for separate inlet and outlet
conduits to connect the liquid separator with the compressor or
vacuum pump element respectively the consumer network/application
or additional downstream equipment units to further treat the
purified gas-liquid mixture obtained from the liquid separator.
As the inlet and outlet channels are integrated as solid channels,
whereby the wall of these channels is part of the housing according
to the invention, they are better protected against external
environmental impact factors, providing the overall compressor or
vacuum pump installation with additional mechanical strength and
making the compressor or vacuum pump installation less corrosion-
and/or leak-prone.
In addition, the integrated channels may be arranged in such a way
that they segue seamlessly into the liquid separator vessel,
avoiding leak-prone fittings that are needed to fix conventional
non-integrated conduits onto the liquid separator vessel.
As an additional advantage, the integrated channels may be arranged
in the housing in such a way that they are as short as possible and
exhibit as few bends as possible, in order to avoid excessive
pressure drops and to achieve an optimal reduction of the size of
the overall compressor or vacuum pump installation.
The integration of the liquid buffer tank increases the volume of
liquid in the housing and, consequently, the liquid buffer tank
permits to increase the overall volume of liquid in a compressor or
vacuum pump installation with a liquid-injected compressor or
vacuum pump element. In this way, possible degradation of the
liquid is reduced due to a decrease in the ratio of contact surface
between the gas-liquid mixture and the liquid with respect to the
volume of liquid in the housing, such that the frequency of liquid
replacements may be reduced.
The liquid buffer tank is also easy to integrate into the housing
without a large increase in housing size as this liquid buffer tank
does not require a symmetrically or regularly shaped internal
space, such that it may be fitted into the housing into a space
remaining after integration of other integrated components
requiring such a regularly shaped internal space, such as the
liquid separator vessel and the set of integrated channels.
In a preferred embodiment of the housing according to the
invention, the set of integrated components in the housing further
comprises a liquid storage reservoir, which liquid storage
reservoir is configured such that it is able to store liquid
leaving the liquid separator vessel through the liquid outlet port
of the liquid separator vessel.
The advantage that lies in the integration of the liquid storage
reservoir in the housing according to this preferred embodiment, is
a further reduction of the overall size of the compressor or vacuum
pump installation.
Additionally, the liquid stored in the liquid storage reservoir is
separated from liquid in the liquid separator vessel by means of a
wall of the liquid separator vessel and is only in fluid connection
with said liquid in the liquid separator vessel through the liquid
outlet port of the liquid separator vessel.
As the wall of the liquid separator vessel acts as a kind of baffle
between the liquid in the liquid separator vessel and the liquid in
the liquid storage reservoir, said liquid in the liquid storage
reservoir is less subject to turbulences in the liquid in the
liquid separator vessel which may be caused by a vigorous entry of
the gas-liquid mixture through the entry port in the liquid
separator vessel and/or pressure fluctuations in the liquid
separator vessel. In this way, excessive entrainment of liquid
droplets with the purified gas-liquid mixture leaving the liquid
separator vessel through the gas outlet port may be significantly
reduced or even avoided.
Like the liquid buffer tank, the liquid storage reservoir is also
easy to integrate into the housing as it does not require a
symmetrically or regularly shaped internal space, such that it may
be fitted into the housing into the space remaining after
integration of other integrated components requiring such a
regularly shaped internal space, such as the liquid separator
vessel and/or the set of integrated channels.
Furthermore, again like the liquid buffer tank, the liquid storage
reservoir permits to increase the volume of liquid in a compressor
or vacuum pump installation with a liquid-injected compressor or
vacuum pump element. In this way, possible degradation of the
liquid is reduced due to a decrease in the ratio of contact surface
between the gas-liquid mixture and the liquid with respect to the
volume of liquid in the housing, such that the frequency of liquid
replacements may be reduced.
As a more preferred embodiment of the housing according to the
invention comprising a liquid storage reservoir, an internal wall
of the liquid storage reservoir comprises a recess configured to
contain a heater.
The heater may preheat liquid in the liquid storage reservoir
before start-up of the compressor or vacuum pump installation to
bring the temperature of the liquid in the oil reservoir to a
specific pre-determined value, such that this start-up is smoother
and faster.
In order to further separate trace amounts of liquid from the gas
obtained in the liquid separator vessel, a liquid separation filter
may be used in the compressor or vacuum pump installation.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid separator
contains an internal liquid separation filter.
Integrated incorporation of this internal liquid separation filter
into the liquid separator vessel may bring the advantage of a
further reduction of the overall size of the compressor or vacuum
pump installation.
As a more preferred embodiment of the invention, the set of
channels integrated into the housing may comprise a scavenge
channel which is configured to guide liquid separated in the
internal liquid separation filter away from the liquid separator
vessel.
The advantages of the integration of this scavenge channel are the
same as for the integration of the inlet and outlet channels.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the set of integrated
components of the housing comprises a supporting seat which is
configured to be connected to the outlet channel and to accommodate
an external liquid separation filter configured to further separate
liquid from the gas-liquid mixture.
In this way, filter capacity of the compressor or vacuum pump
installation may be established and/or increased in a flexible way,
as the external liquid separation filter may be mounted and/or
demounted easily into the supporting seat, such that the external
liquid separation filter is easy to maintain and/or easily
adaptable in size.
As a preferred embodiment of the invention, the set of integrated
components of the housing comprises a fitting configured to connect
a blow-off valve, a fitting configured to connect a safety valve, a
casing configured to contain a minimum pressure valve, a casing
configured to contain a thermostatic valve, and/or a supporting
seat which is configured to accommodate a liquid filter configured
to filter the liquid from impurities.
The integration of these components into the housing may further
reduce the size of the overall compressor or vacuum pump
installation and/or the number of separate conduits connecting
these components.
In a more preferred embodiment of the housing according to the
invention comprising a casing configured to contain a thermostatic
valve and a supporting seat configured to accommodate a liquid
filter, the set of channels integrated into the housing comprises a
connection channel configured to connect the casing configured to
contain the thermostatic valve with the supporting seat configured
to accommodate the liquid filter.
In a more preferred embodiment of the housing according to the
invention comprising a supporting seat configured to accommodate a
liquid filter, the set of channels comprises a drainage channel
configured to drain liquid filtered from impurities in the liquid
filter away from the liquid filter.
The advantages of the integration of this connection and/or
drainage channel are the same as for the integration of the inlet
and outlet channels into the housing.
According to a preferred characteristic of the housing according to
the invention, the housing comprises at least two opposite housing
pieces which are configured to be hermetically sealed together
along a sealing line which is situated in a sealing face, which
sealing face is preferably a plane.
By `opposite housing pieces` is meant that the housing pieces are
essentially positioned at opposite sides of the sealing face.
The composition of the housing in at least two opposite housing
pieces facilitates the manufacturing of the housing, even when the
housing contains a multitude of components possibly with complex
and/or irregular shapes, by means of conventional manufacturing
techniques such as injection moulding.
As an additional advantage, the components contained in the housing
are more easily accessible and, consequently, maintained and/or
replaced after the housing is opened by separating the at least two
opposite housing pieces along the sealing face.
As a more preferable embodiment of a housing according to the
invention which comprises at least two opposite housing pieces, a
channel or preferably several channels in the set of channels are
cut along the sealing face over a distance of more than 50%,
preferably more than 60%, more preferably more than 70%, even more
preferably more than 80%, yet more preferably more than 90% of a
length of said channel.
By `distance over which a channel is cut`, it is meant the largest
straight-line dimension of the cut through the channel.
The advantage of this more preferred embodiment is that the
involved channel is cut over a significant portion of its length,
resulting in a straightforward and extensive access to the channel,
such that the channel may be easily maintained. Hereby, the length
of a channel is measured along a line connecting all centres of
gravity of any transversal cuts through the channel.
In order to provide enough space to apply a sealant along the
sealant line along which the at least two opposite housing pieces
may be hermetically sealed, at least one of these at least two
opposite housing pieces may be provided with a groove along the
sealant line.
To provide enough sealant along the complete sealing line, the
groove is preferably a continuous groove.
As an even more preferable embodiment of the housing according to
the invention which comprises at least two opposite housing pieces
and whereby at least one of the at least two opposite housing
pieces is provided with a groove along the sealing line, at least
one of the at least two opposite housing pieces opposite to the at
least one of the at least two opposite housing pieces provided with
the groove, is provided with a protrusion along the sealing line,
which protrusion is configured to fit into the groove.
In this way, the at least two opposite housing pieces may only be
separated from each other in a direction which is essentially
orthogonal onto the sealing face, such that the at least two
opposite housing pieces cannot slide over each other along the
sealing face. This provides the housing with more mechanical
strength, while the at least two opposite housing pieces may still
be separated from each other in an easy and straightforward
way.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid separator
vessel of the housing comprises a detachable lid.
This facilitates insertion, maintenance, and/or replacement of an
internal liquid separation filter contained in the liquid separator
vessel when the lid is detached from the liquid separator
vessel.
Furthermore, an internal volume of the liquid separator vessel may
be decreased and/or increased in a straightforward way by mounting
a lid of another size, in order to adjust the internal volume of
the liquid separator vessel to the required liquid volume in the
compressor or vacuum pump installation and/or a required liquid
separation capacity of the liquid separator vessel.
As a preferred characteristic of the housing according to the
invention, a channel in the set of channels integrated into the
housing is essentially constant in diameter along a length of said
channel.
This preferred characteristic confers the advantage that friction
and consequently the pressure drop over the concerned channel are
optimally reduced.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid separator
vessel comprises a concave internal surface which is cyclic
symmetric.
In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, the gas outlet
port of the liquid separator is arranged along an axis around which
the concave internal surface of the liquid separator vessel is
cyclic symmetric.
Accordingly, the separation of liquid from the gas-liquid mixture
is optimized by the internal geometry of the liquid separator
vessel by means of the creation of a liquid-separating vortex in
the liquid separation vessel which axis essentially coincides with
the axis around which the concave internal surface is cyclic
symmetric.
The invention also relates to a method to produce a housing of a
liquid separation device for separation of a liquid from a
gas-liquid mixture,
whereby the method comprises the step of including a set of
integrated components which are part of the housing,
whereby the set of integrated components comprises a liquid
separator vessel configured to separate liquid from the gas-liquid
mixture,
whereby the method further comprises the step of including into the
set of integrated components a set of channels, whereby a wall of
each channel is part of the housing,
with the characteristic that the method further comprises the step
of including into the set of integrated components a liquid buffer
tank as part of the housing, which liquid buffer tank is at least
partly separated from the liquid separator vessel by means of a
wall in such a way that liquid in the liquid separator vessel may
flow in the liquid buffer tank and vice versa through an opening in
said wall.
Preferably, the method comprises the step of manufacturing the
housing in at least two opposite housing pieces which may be
hermetically sealed together along a sealing line which is situated
in a sealing face.
This makes it possible that the method comprises the preferable
step of injection moulding, preferably metal injection moulding,
more preferably aluminium injection moulding.
The use of a conventional injection moulding technique to produce
the housing is faster and less expensive than the use of more
advanced techniques such as additive manufacturing.
Preferably, the method comprises the step of fastening the at least
two opposite housing pieces together by means of a bolt connection,
a glue connection, or a combination of both.
These kinds of connections confer the advantages of mechanical
strength and leak-tightness to the housing.
As a preferred embodiment of the method to produce the housing
according to the invention, the method comprises the step of
providing the liquid separator vessel with a detachable lid.
Preferably, this detachable lid is fastened by means of a bolt
connection, a screw connection, or a combination of both.
These kinds of connections confer the advantages of mechanical
strength and leak-tightness to the liquid separator vessel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the
invention, a few preferred embodiments of a housing and a method to
produce a housing according to the invention, are described
hereinafter by way of example, without any limiting nature, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a housing according to the invention;
FIG. 2 shows an internal view of a housing piece along a cut
through the housing in FIG. 1 according to the sealing face;
FIG. 3 shows an internal view of a housing piece opposite to the
housing piece in FIG. 2 along the sealing face;
FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of all components of the housing and
specific components of a compressor installation which may be
connected to this housing.
FIG. 5 shows the steps of a method to produce a housing according
to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The housing 1 in FIG. 1 is provided with an inlet 2 for the
gas-liquid mixture.
A liquid separation vessel 3 is integrated as a component of the
housing 1, which liquid separator vessel is configured to separate
liquid from the gas-liquid mixture.
In this case, the housing 1 also comprises additional integrated
components, such as a liquid storage reservoir 4, which is
configured such that it is able to store liquid from the liquid
separator vessel 3; a liquid buffer tank 5, which is partly
separated from the liquid separator vessel 3 by means of a wall of
the liquid separator vessel 3, and which is configured such that
liquid in the liquid separator vessel 3 may flow into the liquid
buffer tank 5 and vice versa through an opening in said wall of the
liquid separator vessel 3; a supporting seat 6, which is configured
to accommodate an external liquid separation filter configured to
further separate liquid from purified gas coming from the liquid
separator vessel 3; a fitting 7 configured to connect a blow-off
valve, preferably provided downstream the supporting seat 6 to
accommodate the external liquid separation filter; a fitting 8
configured to connect a safety valve; a casing 9 configured to
contain a minimum pressure valve; a casing 10 configured to contain
a thermostatic valve; and a supporting seat 11, which is configured
to accommodate a liquid filter configured to filter the liquid from
impurities.
The liquid storage 4 is, in this case, provided with a vent
hole.
Two fittings are, in this case, also provided on the casing for
conduits in order to enable a connection between the thermostatic
valve and an oil cooler. When the temperature of the liquid in the
housing 1 becomes too high for a proper cooling of the
liquid-injected compressor element, at least part of this liquid
may be deflected via these conduits from the thermostatic valve to
the oil cooler.
Liquid filtered from impurities in the liquid filter is guided to a
liquid outlet of the housing 1, which is in this case positioned
next to the inlet 2 of the housing 1. From this outlet, the liquid
may flow into an injection circuit of a liquid-injected compressor
element which is connected to this outlet.
The liquid separator vessel 3 of housing 1 is, in this case, also
provided with a detachable lid 12.
Preferably, the housing 1 is composed of at least two opposite
housing pieces 1',1'' which are configured to be hermetically
sealed together along a sealing line which is situated in a single
sealing face.
Optionally, these two housing pieces 1',1'' may be provided with
additional mechanical strength by means of external reinforcing
ribs.
FIG. 2 shows an internal view of one of the at least two opposite
housing pieces 1' along a cut through the housing 1 in FIG. 1
according to the sealing face.
In this case, a set of channels is visible whose wall is formed by
the housing 1, whereby this set of channels comprises an inlet
channel 13 configured to guide gas-liquid mixture from the inlet 2
of the housing 1 to an entry port 14 of the liquid separator vessel
3; an outlet channel 15 configured to guide purified gas-liquid
mixture from a gas outlet port 16 of the liquid separator vessel 3
away from the liquid separator vessel 3; a scavenge channel 17
configured to guide liquid separated in the internal liquid
separation filter away from the liquid separator vessel 3; a
connection channel 18, which is configured to connect the casing 10
configured to contain the thermostatic valve with the supporting
seat 11 configured to accommodate the liquid filter; and a drainage
channel 19 configured to drain liquid filtered from impurities in
the liquid filter away from the liquid filter and its supporting
seat 11 to the liquid outlet of the housing 1.
From the internal view of housing piece 1', it becomes clear that
the liquid storage reservoir 4 is in liquid connection with the
liquid separator vessel 3 through a liquid outlet port 20 of the
liquid separator vessel 3.
Liquid in the liquid storage reservoir 4 is guided to the
thermostatic valve through a suction channel which is part of the
casing 10.
The gas outlet 16 of the liquid separator vessel 3 is, in this
case, arranged in the centre of the cylindrical liquid separator
vessel 3 at the same side of the liquid separator vessel 3 as the
liquid outlet port 20.
As can be seen in FIG. 2, the channels except the suction channel
of casing 10 are longitudinally cut along the sealing face over a
significant distance and essentially constant in diameter along
their length.
The sealing line goes along an external wall of the housing 1 and
is, in this case, partly contained in the wall of the channels.
This sealing line may be provided with a groove 21 to accommodate a
sufficient amount of sealant by which the opposite housing pieces
1',1'' may be hermetically sealed together.
Preferably, the groove 21 is a continuous groove to ensure that
each point on the sealing line is provided with enough sealant in
order to hermetically seal the housing pieces 1', 1'' together.
FIG. 3 shows an internal view of a housing piece 1'' which is
opposite to housing piece 1' in FIG. 2 according to the sealing
face.
In this case, housing piece 1'' is provided with a protrusion 22
along the sealing line, which protrusion 22 is configured to fit
into the groove 21 of housing piece 1'.
It is not to be excluded that housing piece 1' is provided with a
protrusion 22 and housing piece 1'' with a groove 21.
It is also not to be excluded that housing piece 1' or 1'' is
provided with several grooves 21 and/or protrusions 22, whereby
these protrusions 22 fit into corresponding grooves in housing
piece 1'' respectively 1'.
The internal view of housing piece 1'' also shows a recess 23 in an
internal wall of the liquid storage reservoir 4, which recess 23 is
configured to contain a heater.
FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the housing 1 with two opposite
housing pieces 1',1'' and a detachable lid 12.
In addition, it is shown how several components of the compressor
installation external to the housing 1 are connected and/or
inserted onto respectively into the housing 1.
For instance, it becomes clear how the minimum pressure valve and
the thermostatic valve may be inserted into their casing
respectively 11.
It is also illustrated how the external liquid separation filter
and liquid filter are accommodated onto their supporting seats 6
respectively 11, and how the compressor element may be connected
onto the inlet 2 and outlet of the housing 1.
Internally, the liquid separator vessel 3 may contain an internal
liquid separation filter, which can be easily applied or removed by
detaching the lid 12 of the liquid separator vessel 3.
FIG. 5 shows the steps of a method to produce the housing 1
according to the invention.
In a first step of the method, the at least two opposite housing
pieces 1',1'' of the housing 1 are produced, whereby the housing 1
is provided with an inlet for the gas-liquid mixture, and whereby
the method comprises the step of including a set of integrated
components into the housing 1, among which a liquid separator
vessel 3 configured to purify incoming gas-liquid mixture by
separating liquid from the gas-liquid mixture, this liquid
separator vessel 3 comprising an entry port 14 for the gas-liquid
mixture, a liquid outlet port 20 for the liquid, and a gas outlet
port 16 for purified gas-liquid mixture; including into the set of
integrated components a liquid buffer tank 5, which liquid buffer
tank 5 is at least partly separated from the liquid separator
vessel 3 by means of a wall of the liquid separator vessel 3 in
such a way that liquid in the liquid separator vessel 3 may flow in
the liquid buffer tank and vice versa through an opening in said
wall of the liquid separator vessel 3; and including into the set
of integrated components a set of channels, whereby a wall of each
channel is part of the housing 1.
The set of channels comprises at least: an inlet channel 13 guiding
the gas-liquid mixture from the inlet 2 of the housing 1 to the
entry port 14 of the liquid separator vessel 3; and an outlet
channel 15 guiding purified gas-liquid mixture from the gas outlet
port 16 away from the liquid separator vessel 3.
In addition, the set of integrated components may comprise a liquid
storage reservoir 4, a liquid buffer tank 5, a supporting seat 6
configured to accommodate an external liquid separation filter, a
fitting 7 configured to connect a blow-off valve, a fitting 8
configured to connect a safety valve, a casing 9 configured to
contain a minimum pressure valve, a casing 10 configured to contain
a thermostatic valve, and/or a supporting seat 11 which is
configured to accommodate a liquid filter configured to filter the
liquid from impurities.
Furthermore, the set of channels may comprise a scavenge channel
17, a connection channel 18, and/or a drainage channel 19.
Preferably, the at least two opposite housing pieces 1',1'' are
produced by means of an injection moulding technique, more
preferably a metal injection technique, and even more preferably an
aluminium injection technique.
In a next step of the method, the at least two opposite housing
pieces 1',1'' are fastened together by means of bolt connection, a
glue connection, or a combination of these or other kinds of
connections.
As a further step of the method, the liquid separator vessel 3 is
provided with a detachable lid 12.
Finally, the detachable lid 12 is fastened on the liquid separator
vessel 3 by means of a bolt connection, a screw connection, or a
combination of these or other kinds of connections.
The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments
described as an example and shown in the drawings, but a housing
and a method to produce such a housing according to the invention
can be realised in all kinds of variants without departing from the
scope of the invention.
* * * * *